Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[iFixit reveals Nook Simple Touch With GlowLight's magic -- with lasers]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/31/ifixit-reveals-nook-simple-touch-with-glowlights-magic-with/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/31/ifixit-reveals-nook-simple-touch-with-glowlights-magic-with/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/31/ifixit-reveals-nook-simple-touch-with-glowlights-magic-with/#comments Image

Turns out the secret to the new Nook's patent pending magic glow isn't so magic after all. Nope, it utilizes the wonder of diffraction. Yep, the driving force behind this marriage-saving device is science! Says iFixit in its latest teardown,

The display assembly contains the front glass, digitizer, and array of GlowLight LEDs, all fused together into one component. The glass over the E-ink screen takes the light from the eight LEDs and evenly distributes it across the screen.

How did the site discover the pending patentness after peeling back the e-reader's layers? Why, lasers, of course, beaming one through the aforementioned glass, which diffracted the green light before it hit a wall, proving once and for all that science can be fun. And ripping gadgets apart, naturally.

iFixit reveals Nook Simple Touch With GlowLight's magic -- with lasers originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 13:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Barnes Noblebarnes and nobleBarnesAndNobleBarnesNoblee booke bookse readere readerse-booke-bookse-readere-readersifixitlaserlasersnooknook simple touchNook Simple Touch with GlowLightNookSimpleTouchNookSimpleTouchWithGlowlightteardownThu, 31 May 2012 13:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers power microbots made of bubbles with lasers]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/22/researchers-power-microbots-made-of-bubbles-with-lasers/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/22/researchers-power-microbots-made-of-bubbles-with-lasers/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/22/researchers-power-microbots-made-of-bubbles-with-lasers/#comments Image

They may not be "robots" as most have come to expect, but these so-called microrobots developed by a team of researchers from the University of Hawaii at Manoa do have at least one thing in common with many of their mechanical counterparts: lasers. As IEEE Spectrum reports, the bots themselves are actually nothing more than bubbles of air in a saline solution, but they become "microrobots" when the laser is added to the equation, which serves as an engine of sorts and allows the researchers to control both the speed and direction of the bubbles. That, they say, could allow the bots to be used for a variety of tasks, including assembling microstructures and then disappearing without a trace when the bubble is popped. Head on past the break for a video of what they're already capable of.

Continue reading Researchers power microbots made of bubbles with lasers

Researchers power microbots made of bubbles with lasers originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 May 2012 21:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>laserlasersmicromicrobotmicrobotsmicrorobotnanoroboticsnanotechnanotechnologyrobotrobotsUniversity of HawaiiUniversity of Hawaii at ManoaUniversityOfHawaiiUniversityOfHawaiiAtManoavideoTue, 22 May 2012 21:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Laser-toting MAV can find its way in tight spaces, might eventually hunt you down (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/17/laser-toting-mav-can-find-its-way-in-tight-spaces/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/17/laser-toting-mav-can-find-its-way-in-tight-spaces/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/17/laser-toting-mav-can-find-its-way-in-tight-spaces/#comments Image

A perpetual weakness of MAVs (micro air vehicles) is their frequent need for hand-holding in anything other than a wide-open or very controlled space. If they're not using GPS or motion sensors to find their locations, they can't turn on a dime the way a human pilot would. Adam Bry, Abraham Bachrash and Nicholas Roy from MIT's CSAIL group haven't overcome every problem just yet, but they may have taken combat drones and other pilotless aircraft a big step forward by giving them the tools needed to fly quickly when positioning isn't an option. Uniting a laser rangefinder with an existing 3D map of the environment -- still 'cheating,' but less dependent -- lets the prototype flyer find the distance to nearby obstacles and steer clear even at speeds that would scare any mere mortal MAV. Ideally, future designs that can create their own maps will be completely independent of humans, making us think that MIT's references to "aggressive" autonomous flight are really cues to start hiding under the bed.

Continue reading Laser-toting MAV can find its way in tight spaces, might eventually hunt you down (video)

Laser-toting MAV can find its way in tight spaces, might eventually hunt you down (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 May 2012 06:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aircraftairplaneairplanesautonomousautonomous flying robotsautonomous vehiclesAutonomousFlyingRobotsAutonomousVehiclesCSAILdronedroneslaserlasersmavmicro air vehicleMicro Air VehiclesMicroAirVehicleMicroAirVehiclesmitRangeFinderrobust robotics groupRobustRoboticsGroupvideowargadgetThu, 17 May 2012 06:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers make an RGB laser with a regular laser and quantum dots]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/01/researchers-make-an-rgb-laser-with-a-regular-laser-and-quantum-d/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/01/researchers-make-an-rgb-laser-with-a-regular-laser-and-quantum-d/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/01/researchers-make-an-rgb-laser-with-a-regular-laser-and-quantum-d/#comments Researchers make an RGB laser with a regular laser and quantum dots

The problem with lasers is, they tend to generate just a single color or light.To get more than one hue requires actually combining more than one type of laser to produce red, green and blue. But researchers at Brown University have figured out a solution to creating small RGB lasers by using colloidal quantum dots, or CQDs. The idea of leveraging the properties of the thin film isn't new, but past attempts to use CQDs in semiconductor lasers have failed because the necessary energy tends to wind up as heat instead of light. The work around scientists found was to excite the various dot sizes with a laser then filter out original light source. Unfortunately, the solution is far from practical for use in commercial products, but it does represent a milestone in the march towards a single-material multi-wavelength laser. For more details check out the source link.

Researchers make an RGB laser with a regular laser and quantum dots originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 May 2012 06:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brown universityBrownUniversitycolloidal quantum dotsColloidalQuantumDotsCQDCQDslaserlasersquantum dotsQuantumDotsresearchrgb laserRgbLaserscienceTue, 01 May 2012 06:06:00 EST<![CDATA[German scientists shoot world's fastest movie: gone in 50 femtoseconds]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/26/german-scientists-shoot-worlds-fastest-movie-gone-in-50-femtos/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/26/german-scientists-shoot-worlds-fastest-movie-gone-in-50-femtos/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/26/german-scientists-shoot-worlds-fastest-movie-gone-in-50-femtos/#comments No, it's not another Fast & Furious sequel, it's something much quicker -- 800 billion times quicker, to be precise. Scientists at DESY (Germany's largest particle physics center) are premiering the Guinness World Record-holding fastest "movie" to a select audience at its light sources users' meeting. The film was shot using an X-ray Laser, and splitting the light in two. By firing one beam off on a minuscule detour (0.015 millimeters) and delaying its arrival by 50 femtoseconds, two separate images are captured. Okay, so two frames isn't exactly Lord of the Rings, but it's still the smallest interval ever recorded. This technique won't be popping up in Hollywood any time soon -- instead, it's actually used for snapping subatomic glimpses of ultra-fast molecular processes and chemical reactions. Despite the brevity of this record-breaking flick, the plot is apparently still more complex than Tokyo Drift.

German scientists shoot world's fastest movie: gone in 50 femtoseconds originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DESYFemtosecondfilmfilm recordingFilmRecordinggermangermanylaserlasersmovierecord breakingRecordBreakingsciencestudysubatomicworld recordWorldRecordworlds fastestWorldsFastestx-ray laserX-rayLaserThu, 26 Jan 2012 22:13:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers use lasers to supercool semiconductor membranes, blow your mind]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/24/researchers-use-lasers-to-supercool-semiconductor-membranes-blo/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/24/researchers-use-lasers-to-supercool-semiconductor-membranes-blo/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/24/researchers-use-lasers-to-supercool-semiconductor-membranes-blo/#comments Ah, lasers. Those wonderful, super intense beams of light that we've seen used in headlights, projectors, and naturally, death rays. Like us, researchers at the Niels Bohr Institute at the University of Copenhagen figure there's nothing lasers can't do, and have figured out a way to use them to cool a bit of semiconducting material. This bit of black magic works using a membrane made of gallium arsenide and is based upon principles of quantum physics and optomechanics (the interaction between light and mechanical motion).

Turns out, when a one millimeter square membrane of gallium arsenide is placed parallel to a mirror in a vacuum chamber and bombarded with a laser beam, an optical resonator is created between them that oscillates the membrane. As the distance between the gallium arsenide and the mirror changes, so do the membrane's oscillations. And, at a certain frequency, the membrane is cooled to minus 269 degrees Celsius -- despite the fact that the membrane itself is being heated by the laser. So, lasers can both heat things up and cool them down simultaneously, and if that confuses you as much as it does us, feel free to dig into the science behind this paradoxical bit of research at the source below. In other news, left is right, up is down, and Eli Manning is a beloved folk hero to all Bostonians.

Researchers use lasers to supercool semiconductor membranes, blow your mind originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>coolinggallium arsenideGalliumArsenidelaserlasersniels bohr instituteNielsBohrInstituteoptomechanicsquantum physicsQuantumPhysicsresearchscienceSemiconductorsemiconductorsUniversity of CopenhagenUniversityOfCopenhagenTue, 24 Jan 2012 12:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Way-Go flashlight uses lasers to light your path, GPS to tell you where to go]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/17/way-go-flashlight-uses-lasers-to-light-your-path-gps-to-tell-yo/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/17/way-go-flashlight-uses-lasers-to-light-your-path-gps-to-tell-yo/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/17/way-go-flashlight-uses-lasers-to-light-your-path-gps-to-tell-yo/#comments We love just about anything involving lasers or robotics here at Engadget, so naturally, we're intrigued by Sriranjan Rasakatla's Way-Go flashlight that combines the two. It's comprised of a laser pico projector, GPS module, altitude and heading reference system (AHRS) to not only light your path but also tell you which way to go. It can be used strictly as a flashlight, but users can also input starting and destination points to have the Way-Go guide them. There's also a wander mode that displays info about your surroundings as you stroll around -- though naturally, such information must be pre-programmed into the device. Because it displays stuff that needs reading, the projector's connected to servos that can keep it locked on a projection point to keep it readable no matter how much you move the Way-Go around. Rasakatla sees the device being useful in search and rescue, backcountry trekking, and campus tour guiding -- odd, 'cause in our day, kids walking around campus at night were trying to find out where the party was at, not learn about the architecture of the academic buildings. Regardless, you can see the Way-Go in action after the break.

Continue reading Way-Go flashlight uses lasers to light your path, GPS to tell you where to go

Way-Go flashlight uses lasers to light your path, GPS to tell you where to go originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ahrsflashlightgpsimage stabilizationImageStabilizationlaserlaser pico projectorLaserPicoProjectorlaserspico projectorPicoProjectorrobotrobotssriranjan rasakatlaSriranjanRasakatlatorchvideoway goway-goWayGoTue, 17 Jan 2012 20:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Matt Richardson turns Arduino, Twitter and lasers into art (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/26/matt-richardson-turns-arduino-twitter-and-lasers-into-art-vide/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/26/matt-richardson-turns-arduino-twitter-and-lasers-into-art-vide/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/26/matt-richardson-turns-arduino-twitter-and-lasers-into-art-vide/#comments Fade Away 1 Matt Richardson's genius has never really been in question. The Make Live host and compulsive hacker has built an impressive library of creations, ranging from a Google Reader pedal to an email-triggered Christmas tree. The man's works are definitely art, in their own way, but his new project, Fade Away 1, is the first that we could easily see taking up residence in a SoHo gallery. At the heart of the installation is an Arduino (of course) that pulls in posts from Twitter with the phrase "fade away" in them. The same AVR chip then "prints" those tweets on phosphorescent paper with a UV laser mounted on a servo -- as the energy dissipates, the messages slowly disappear. And, if you're wondering what the "1" at the end of the title means, Richardson plans to continuously improve the project. For some more details about the next iteration and to see the current one in action, check out the videos after the break.

Continue reading Matt Richardson turns Arduino, Twitter and lasers into art (video)

Matt Richardson turns Arduino, Twitter and lasers into art (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Dec 2011 11:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arduinoartDIYdo it yourselfDoItYourselffade awayfade away 1FadeAwayFadeAway1hacklaserlasersmake liveMakeLivematt richardsonMattRichardsontwittervideoMon, 26 Dec 2011 11:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Tetris played on microscopic level with lasers, thanks to Amsterdam's rigorous curriculum (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/26/tetris-played-on-microscopic-level-with-lasers-thanks-to-amster/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/26/tetris-played-on-microscopic-level-with-lasers-thanks-to-amster/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/26/tetris-played-on-microscopic-level-with-lasers-thanks-to-amster/#comments Ostensibly speaking, it appears that university goers in the Netherlands have a bit too much time on their hands. You see, in between visits to coffee shops, students at VU University Amsterdam have developed a way to play Tetris with lasers, or in this case, a light-trapping device known as optical tweezers. With blocks constructed of microscopic glass spheres, university physicist Joost van Mameren explains, "The focus of this beam acts as an attraction point for small particles: they get sucked into the focus and cannot escape." The end result is transformed into a rousing experience of the Soviet Union's greatest creation ever, now played out on the microscopic level -- be sure to check the action after the break. For gamers who get in a bit of a jam, the laser can be turned off, which will prompt each of the beads to scatter into chaos. A fitting conclusion, indeed.

Continue reading Tetris played on microscopic level with lasers, thanks to Amsterdam's rigorous curriculum (video)

Tetris played on microscopic level with lasers, thanks to Amsterdam's rigorous curriculum (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Dec 2011 01:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amsterdamgamegameslaserlasersnetherlandsoptical tweezersOpticalTweezerstetrisvideovu university amsterdamVuUniversityAmsterdamMon, 26 Dec 2011 01:23:00 EST<![CDATA[MIT builds camera that can capture at the speed of light (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/13/dnp-mit-builds-camera-that-can-capture-at-the-speed-of-light-vi/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/13/dnp-mit-builds-camera-that-can-capture-at-the-speed-of-light-vi/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/13/dnp-mit-builds-camera-that-can-capture-at-the-speed-of-light-vi/#comments
A team from the MIT media lab has created a camera with a "shutter speed" of one trillion exposures per second -- enabling it to record light itself traveling from one point to another. Using a heavily modified Streak Tube (which is normally used to intensify photons into electron streams), the team could snap a single image of a laser as it passed through a soda bottle. In order to create the slow-motion film in the video we've got after the break, the team had to replicate the experiment hundreds of times. The stop-motion footage shows how light bounces through the bottle, collecting inside the opaque cap before dispersing. The revolutionary snapper may have a fast shutter but the long time it takes to process the images have earned it the nickname of the "the world's slowest fastest camera."

[Image courtesy of MIT / M. Scott Brauer]

Continue reading MIT builds camera that can capture at the speed of light (video)

MIT builds camera that can capture at the speed of light (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 06:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Andreas VeltenAndreasVeltenLaserLasersMassachusettsmassachusetts institute of technologyMassachusettsInstituteOfTechnologyMITMIT Media LabMitMediaLabRamesh RaskarRameshRaskarvideoTue, 13 Dec 2011 06:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Google+ laser hack, Hangout shoots first (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/07/google-laser-hack-hangout-shoots-first-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/07/google-laser-hack-hangout-shoots-first-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/07/google-laser-hack-hangout-shoots-first-video/#comments We've all been in those boring meetings where you just want to let rip on marketing with a laser blaster. And now you can... kinda. Best of all, you don't even need to leave your La-Z-Boy. House4Hack, a Johannesburg based hackerspace knocked up a dual-servo, Arduino-controlled webcam for its entry into the 2011 Google+ hackathon. Deciding that this wasn't nearly awesome enough, they made the logical improvement of adding a splendiferous laser attachment for the perfect Google+ Hangout accessory. Now, colleagues can 'show-up' remotely when they can't be present in person, and register their disapproval in the way nature intended -- radiation amplified light. To see it in action, tap the video after the jump.

Continue reading Google+ laser hack, Hangout shoots first (video)

Google+ laser hack, Hangout shoots first (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Nov 2011 18:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>googlegoogle plusgoogle plus hangoutGooglePlusGooglePlusHangouthackhackathonhackshangouthouse4hacklaserlasersmodmodssocial networksocial networkingSocialNetworkSocialNetworkingMon, 07 Nov 2011 18:41:00 EST<![CDATA[RED CEO teases 4K 3D laser projector, bound for theaters and (millionaires') homes]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/22/red-ceo-teases-4k-3d-laser-projector-bound-for-theaters-and-mi/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/22/red-ceo-teases-4k-3d-laser-projector-bound-for-theaters-and-mi/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/22/red-ceo-teases-4k-3d-laser-projector-bound-for-theaters-and-mi/#commentsWe all love RED -- the company puts out some of the best pro-quality digital video cameras on the market. But, what about the other side of that equation? All of that 4K footage is worthless without something to watch it on. CEO Jim Jannard, notorious for his ability to build hype and mystery, took to the REDUser Forums to tease some details about an upcoming 4K, 3D laser projection system that will be targeted at both homes (presumably well off ones) and theaters. Details about the projector are still scarce, but we do know it won't be using TI's 4K DLP chip, and that it will rely on passive 3D tech rather than active, which Jannard said "landed in the La Brea Tar Pits." The image is apparently so bright and clear that it left Stephen Pizzo, co-founder Element Technica, "speechless." We just have one question: when can we expect our review unit?

RED CEO teases 4K 3D laser projector, bound for theaters and (millionaires') homes originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Sep 2011 11:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d3d projector3dProjector4k4k 3d4k 3d laser projector4k projector4k3d4k3dLaserProjector4kProjectorhdpostcrosslaserlaser projectorLaserProjectorlasersprojectorREDteaseThu, 22 Sep 2011 11:12:00 EST<![CDATA[New bomb-sniffing laser could be used to locate IEDs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/19/new-bomb-sniffing-laser-could-be-used-to-locate-ieds/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/19/new-bomb-sniffing-laser-could-be-used-to-locate-ieds/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/19/new-bomb-sniffing-laser-could-be-used-to-locate-ieds/#commentsWe've already seen lasers with the potential to spot explosives, and now a team of researchers is focusing its beams on roadside bomb detection. Chemistry professor Marcos Dantus of Michigan State University has led the production of a laser that has the "sensitivity and selectivity" to accurately identify improvised explosive devices. This particular bomb-sniffing laser emits short pulses that make molecules vibrate and longer pulses used to "listen" to the resulting "vibrational cords," these so-called cords are used to distinguish telltale molecules from the harmless sort. The research is being funded in part by the Department of Homeland Security. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading New bomb-sniffing laser could be used to locate IEDs

New bomb-sniffing laser could be used to locate IEDs originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bombbomb detectionBombDetectionbombsdetectionexplosiveexplosivesiedimprovised explosive deviceImprovisedExplosiveDevicelaserlasersMarcos DantusMarcosDantusMichigan State UniversityMichiganStateUniversityMSUwar gadgetWarGadgetMon, 19 Sep 2011 18:40:00 EST<![CDATA[BMW developing laser headlights, officially over LEDs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/06/bmw-developing-laser-headlights-officially-over-leds/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/06/bmw-developing-laser-headlights-officially-over-leds/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/06/bmw-developing-laser-headlights-officially-over-leds/#comments We know, our whip doesn't have LED headlights either, but that's not stopping BMW from pressing on with its laser powered successor. Purportedly ready "within a few years," the updated beams boast an intensity a thousand times greater than their forebearers, all while consuming less than half the power -- helping EV drivers eke out a little more range. With each laser diode one hundred times smaller than its LED counterpart, Bavaria reckons the tech will help it design and package future light fixtures that are more bodacious than those from its competition in Ingolstadt. There's no firm date for availability, but the company says the new lighting tech will debut on the production version of its i8 concept. Sounds great, so where do we sign up for our frickin' laser bimmer?

Continue reading BMW developing laser headlights, officially over LEDs

BMW developing laser headlights, officially over LEDs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 07:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autoautomobileautomobilesautomotiveautosbmwbmw i8bmw project iBmwI8BmwProjectIcarcarsheadlightslaserlaser diodelaser headlightLaserDiodeLaserHeadlightlasersLEDLED headlightsLedHeadlightslightingTue, 06 Sep 2011 07:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Wicked Lasers' S3 Krypton laser is bright enough to blind astronauts (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/05/wicked-lasers-s3-krypton-laser-is-bright-enough-to-blind-astron/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/05/wicked-lasers-s3-krypton-laser-is-bright-enough-to-blind-astron/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/05/wicked-lasers-s3-krypton-laser-is-bright-enough-to-blind-astron/#comments Wicked Lasers S3 Krypton If you ever plan to lead a PowerPoint presentation projected on giant white board orbiting the Earth (we'll leave the logistics of that one up to you) there's only one laser that will get the job done -- Wicked Lasers' S3 Krypton. The Guinness Record-pending laser produces about 86 million lux and can be seen from up to 85 miles away, well beyond the edge of our atmosphere. Of course, at roughly 8,000-times the brightness of the Sun, serious safety precautions are needed when operating the S3. Goggles are a must (and bundled with the handheld laser), while sensors and a microprocessor regulate current to keep the tube of aluminum from overheating in your hands. The top end model is available now for $1,000 but, if blinding astronauts isn't on your agenda, lower-powered versions can be had starting at $300. Check out the video after the break.

Continue reading Wicked Lasers' S3 Krypton laser is bright enough to blind astronauts (video)

Wicked Lasers' S3 Krypton laser is bright enough to blind astronauts (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Sep 2011 23:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>guinnessguinness book of world recordsGuinnessBookOfWorldRecordslaserlaser pointerlaser pointersLaserPointerLaserPointerslaserss3 kryptonS3Kryptonvideowicked laserswicked lasers s3 kryptonWickedLasersWickedLasersS3KryptonMon, 05 Sep 2011 23:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Audi announces A2 electric concept car, uses lasers to ensure safety of future humans]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/02/audi-announces-a2-electric-concept-car-uses-lasers-to-ensure-sa/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/02/audi-announces-a2-electric-concept-car-uses-lasers-to-ensure-sa/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/02/audi-announces-a2-electric-concept-car-uses-lasers-to-ensure-sa/#comments Lasers make everything better, including (but not limited to): microphones, kidneys and Audi's electric A2 concept. This newest flight of fancy uses a laser diode as the rear fog lamp, which projects a red triangle onto the road to let other drivers know you're there. The German car-maker has tricked out the rest of the EV's lighting system as well by implementing matrix beam technology using LEDs and microreflectors -- giving it high resolution, non-glaring beams and intelligent tail lights that change in intensity based on weather conditions. Claiming other state-of-the-art features like gesture controls instead of keys, and brake lights that glow brighter the harder you press, it sounds like this would be a pretty sweet ride -- if it ever makes it to market. No word on the other, insignificant details (ya know, like what actually powers the thing) but there's plenty more about the car's lighting system in the PR after the break.

Continue reading Audi announces A2 electric concept car, uses lasers to ensure safety of future humans

Audi announces A2 electric concept car, uses lasers to ensure safety of future humans originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 22:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a2audiaudi A2audi a2 conceptAudiA2AudiA2Conceptautoautomobilecarcarsconceptconcept carconcept carsConceptCarConceptCarsdynamic lightingDynamicLightingelectricelectric vehicleElectricVehicleEVFrankfurt Motor ShowFrankfurtMotorShowlaserlaser diodelaser diodesLaserDiodeLaserDiodeslasersLEDLEDsmatrix beamMatrixBeammicroreflectorsFri, 02 Sep 2011 22:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Scientist creating rain-making lasers, Weezy and Fat Joe await royalty checks]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/02/scientist-creating-rain-making-lasers-weezy-and-fat-joe-await-r/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/02/scientist-creating-rain-making-lasers-weezy-and-fat-joe-await-r/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/02/scientist-creating-rain-making-lasers-weezy-and-fat-joe-await-r/#comments We've heard of "making it rain," but actually making it rain -- with lasers, no less -- now, that's something to write home about. A team of researchers at the University of Geneva is coming ever closer to creating real-deal downpours by shooting beams from their Teramobile mobile femtosecond-Terawatt laser system into the sky above the Rhone River. While logging nearly 133 hours between the fall of 2009 and spring of 2010, the team observed that the beams actually triggered the creation of nitric acid particles, which bound water molecules together creating water droplets. Those droplets proved too small and light to actually be categorized as rain, but the discovery has apparently spurred the scientists on. Previous efforts to make it rain, known as seeding, have used rockets and jets to shoot silver iodide and dry ice into the sky. No word yet on when the scientists expect to successfully "wash the spider out."

Scientist creating rain-making lasers, Weezy and Fat Joe await royalty checks originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 01:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cloud seedingCloudSeedingJérôme KasparianJérômeKasparianlaserlasersmaking rainMakingRainphysicsrainrain cloudsrain laserrain making laserRainCloudsRainLaserRainMakingLaserscienceTeramobileTeramobile laserTeramobileLaserUniversity of GenevaUniversityOfGenevaweatherweather controlWeatherControlFri, 02 Sep 2011 01:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Nano-structured glass creates new type of computer memory]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/17/nano-structured-glass-creates-new-type-of-computer-memory/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/17/nano-structured-glass-creates-new-type-of-computer-memory/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/17/nano-structured-glass-creates-new-type-of-computer-memory/#commentsWe've sure come a long way since frying ants with a magnifying glass. Researchers at the University of Southampton used nano-structures to create millimeter-sized "monolithic glass space-variant polarization converters," which ultimately changes the way light travels through and is stored in glass. These "whirlpools" of light data can be read like information stored in optical fibers -- allowing for "more precise laser material processing, optical manipulation of atom-sized objects, ultra-high resolution imaging and potentially, table-top particle accelerators." (Does that mean we all get one of these on our desks?) This new five dimensional approach is reusable, twenty times cheaper and more compact compared to old methods of microscopy using a spatial light modulator, making it a win-win. Check out the full PR after the fold.

[Thanks, Adam]

Continue reading Nano-structured glass creates new type of computer memory

Nano-structured glass creates new type of computer memory originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 00:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fiber opticsFiberOpticsglasslaserlasersnanoglassopticaloptical vortex converterOpticalVortexConvertersciencespatial light modulatorspatial light modulatorsSpatialLightModulatorSpatialLightModulatorsUniversity of SouthamptonUniversityOfSouthamptonWed, 17 Aug 2011 00:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Light Blue Optics touch interface pico projector passes through the FCC]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/09/light-blue-optics-touch-interface-pico-projector-passes-through/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/09/light-blue-optics-touch-interface-pico-projector-passes-through/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/09/light-blue-optics-touch-interface-pico-projector-passes-through/#comments Last time we saw Light Blue Optics' Light Touch, it was deep in the bowels of CES, where we got to play with its touch-sensitive projections. Well, the little laser pico projector has finally made its way from that dark trade show corner into the bright lights of the FCC. It still turns any flat area into a WVGA touchscreen using holographic laser projection (HLP) and infrared sensors, only now it's more finger friendly and supports multi-touch gestures. It also has a 3.5mm headphone jack and a single mono speaker so you aren't surface computing in silence, and there are composite video and micro-USB ports for pulling content from other devices. Of course, the Light Touch still only projects a 10.1-inch image, so it won't be turning your wall into a touchscreen. But, it should do just fine turning a tray table, desk, or perhaps even the nearest person planking into one.

Light Blue Optics touch interface pico projector passes through the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 02:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adobe flashAdobeFlashhlpholographicholographic laser projectionholographic projectorHolographicLaserProjectionHolographicProjectorinfraredlaserlaserslight blue opticslight touchLightBlueOpticsLightTouchpico projectorPicoProjectorprojectorwvgaTue, 09 Aug 2011 02:13:00 EST<![CDATA[Cakes of nanotubes may measure terahertz laser power, not years wasted]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/20/cakes-of-nanotubes-may-measure-terahertz-laser-power-not-years/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/20/cakes-of-nanotubes-may-measure-terahertz-laser-power-not-years/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/20/cakes-of-nanotubes-may-measure-terahertz-laser-power-not-years/#commentsVANTATerahertz lasers sure are awesome but, there's one big problem, we have no reliable way of measuring their power -- a pretty important piece of data to have before you start bombarding people with their flesh penetrating rays. A new coating for laser calibration tools called VANTA seems like a viable candidate for sucking up those longer than visible wavelengths. Constructed of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes, up to 1.5mm in length, cakes of VANTA are not only more absorbent than other materials used for measuring a laser's power (which makes it more accurate and faster), it's also quite easy to handle. Chunks of the stuff can be sliced off with a razor and shuttled to the detector on the blade's side. We give it a week before someone cuts a piece with one of those new MacBook Airs.

Cakes of nanotubes may measure terahertz laser power, not years wasted originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jul 2011 12:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cakecakescalibrationlaserlasersmeasurenanotubesscienceterahertzterahertz laserterahertz lasersTerahertzLaserTerahertzLasersvantaWed, 20 Jul 2011 12:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Senate denies Navy's missile-destroying laser funding, puts the kibosh on annoying Dr. Evil impressions]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/19/senate-denies-navys-missile-shooting-laser-funding-puts-the-ki/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/19/senate-denies-navys-missile-shooting-laser-funding-puts-the-ki/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/19/senate-denies-navys-missile-shooting-laser-funding-puts-the-ki/#comments Leave it to the Senate to crush the military's fragile dreams. All the Navy ever really wanted was a giant ship-based laser that could be used to shoot down missiles. Despite some record breaking stats, however, the latest defense authorization bill handed down from the Senate Armed Services Committee throws a giant congressional wet blanket on the free-electron laser. The project, it seems, has simply proven too expensive -- among other things, the laser's researchers haven't found the ideal method for powering the weapon from a ship. According to the current timeline, the project was not likely to have been completed before 2020, and as such the Navy's request for further funding was, somewhat ironically, ultimately shot down.

Senate denies Navy's missile-destroying laser funding, puts the kibosh on annoying Dr. Evil impressions originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 19 Jun 2011 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>death rayDeathRayfree electron laserfree-electron laserFree-electronLaserFreeElectronLaserfundinglaserlaser weaponlasersLaserWeaponnavysenateSenate Armed Services CommitteeSenateArmedServicesCommitteeus navyUsNavywargadgetweaponSun, 19 Jun 2011 13:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Scientists produce laser light from human kidney cells, we get in touch with our inner Cyclops]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/13/scientists-produce-laser-light-from-human-kidney-cells-we-get-i/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/13/scientists-produce-laser-light-from-human-kidney-cells-we-get-i/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/13/scientists-produce-laser-light-from-human-kidney-cells-we-get-i/#comments
Scientists have just created living laser light out of a human cell and some jellyfish protein, but it's not quite as terrifying as it sounds. Developed by Malte Gather and Seok Hyun Yun at Massachusetts General Hospital, the new technique revolves around something known as green fluorescent protein (GFP) -- a naturally glowing molecule found in jellyfish that can be used to illuminate living material. After genetically engineering a human kidney cell to express this protein, Gather and Yun wedged it between two mirrors in an inch-long cylinder, filled with a GFP solution. Then, they infused the system with blue light, until the cell began to emit its own pulses of bright green laser light. Researchers also noticed that the cell could regenerate any destroyed fluorescent proteins, potentially paving the way for scientists to conduct light-based therapy and medical imaging without an external laser source. Hit the source link for more information, though you'll need a subscription to Nature Photonics to access the full article.

Scientists produce laser light from human kidney cells, we get in touch with our inner Cyclops originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Jun 2011 07:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biologycellgenetic engineeringGeneticEngineeringGFPgreen fluorescent proteinGreenFluorescentProteinhealthhuman cellHumanCelljellyfishlaserlaser lightLaserLightlaserslightMassachusetts General HospitalMassachusettsGeneralHospitalmedical imagingMedicalImagingmedicinephotonicsproteinresearchMon, 13 Jun 2011 07:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Kinect hack turns your living room into a crazy one-man laser techno dance party (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/03/kinect-hack-turns-your-living-room-into-a-crazy-one-man-laser-te/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/03/kinect-hack-turns-your-living-room-into-a-crazy-one-man-laser-te/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/03/kinect-hack-turns-your-living-room-into-a-crazy-one-man-laser-te/#comments Kinect hack turns your living room into a crazy laser techno dance party We've seen it aid surgery, help make smarter robots, and even do some gaming stuff, but honestly, what good is a controller if it can't fuel your crazy techno dance parties? Vimeo user Matt "Namethemachine" Davis posted a video showing a new hack for the peripheral, using its camera-based motion detection, combined with Ableton Live, DMX protocol, and more clever hackery to create a one-man electro-laser light show. It's easy to see this getting a bit out of control real fast in a room packed with overexcited club goers, but if you're looking to recreate the communal experience for you and your cat in your one bedroom apartment, this may be just the ticket.

Continue reading Kinect hack turns your living room into a crazy one-man laser techno dance party (video)

Kinect hack turns your living room into a crazy one-man laser techno dance party (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Jun 2011 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ableton liveAbletonLivedancedmxdrum machineDrumMachinehackkinectkinect hackkinect hacksKinectHackKinectHackslaserlasersmatt davisMattDavisnamethemachinevideoxboxxbox 330Xbox330Fri, 03 Jun 2011 20:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers create 26 terabit-per-second connections with just a single laser]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/23/researchers-create-26-terabit-per-second-connections-with-just-a/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/23/researchers-create-26-terabit-per-second-connections-with-just-a/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/23/researchers-create-26-terabit-per-second-connections-with-just-a/#comments Internet Must Be On At All Times
Remember that pair of 100 terabit-per-second connections we told you about earlier this moth? Impressive? Sure, but not entirely practical thanks to the massive banks of lasers (370 to be exact) that guzzled several kilowatts of electricity. Researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany haven't hit 100Tbps yet, but they were able push 26Tbps using just one, lonely laser. The new single-laser fiber-optic speed record was set using a technique called fast Fourier transform that pulses light at an incredibly high rate with data encoded in 325 distinct colors across the spectrum. A detector at the receiving end is able to distinguish between the various colored data streams, based on tiny differences in arrival time, and recombine them into a high-speed torrent of ones and zeros. The scientists behind the project believe that, eventually, the technology could make its way into commercial use and be integrated into silicon chips. Now, someone needs to hurry up and jack our FiOS connection into this thing -- all this talk of terabits-per-second and graphene modulators, yet we're still jealous of grandma Löthberg.

Researchers create 26 terabit-per-second connections with just a single laser originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 May 2011 19:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>26 terabits per second26TerabitsPerSeconddatafiberfiber opticfiber opticsFiberOpticFiberOpticsgermanyinternetKarlsruhe Institute of TechnologyKarlsruheInstituteOfTechnologyKITlaserlasersrecordrecordsresearchspeed recordSpeedRecordMon, 23 May 2011 19:22:00 EST<![CDATA[MVS California's Volumetric Head Up Display is a 3D laser show for your car's windshield (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/20/mvs-californias-volumetric-head-up-display-is-a-3d-laser-show-f/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/20/mvs-californias-volumetric-head-up-display-is-a-3d-laser-show-f/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/20/mvs-californias-volumetric-head-up-display-is-a-3d-laser-show-f/#comments Your windshield is good for more than just keeping bugs out of your mouth. It's also a big blank canvas waiting to display helpful info like directions, traffic notifications, and safety information. A number big name manufacturers like GM and Pioneer have offered up heads-up display concepts over the past few years, but what makes MVS California's Volumetric Head Up Display really neat is its impressive implementation of the volumetric aspect, using lasers to project images on the windshield in a such a way that gives the illusion of depth. So, if the system is being used to give driving direction via GPS -- its main application, at present -- it can make a turn arrow appear lined up with an exit half a mile down the road. The prototype showcased at this week's Augmented Reality Event 2011 projected in red only, though the company says it's capable of full color. How long do we have to wait for the future? MVS is hoping to get the thing into cars as a premium option in the next few years for around the same price of current high-end navigation systems. Surprisingly dull video of reality augmenting 3D lasers after the break.

Continue reading MVS California's Volumetric Head Up Display is a 3D laser show for your car's windshield (video)

MVS California's Volumetric Head Up Display is a 3D laser show for your car's windshield (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 May 2011 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3daugmented realityaugmented reality event 2011AugmentedRealityAugmentedRealityEvent2011cardisplaydriving directionsDrivingDirectionsgpsheads up displayheads up displaysHeadsUpDisplayHeadsUpDisplayslasersmvsmvs californiaMvsCaliforniavideovolumetricvolumetric head up displayVolumetricHeadsUpDisplayVolumetricHeadUpDisplayvolumetricswindshieldFri, 20 May 2011 14:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Portal turret replica has real laser, insatiable bloodlust]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/10/portal-turret-replica-has-real-laser-insatiable-bloodlust/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/10/portal-turret-replica-has-real-laser-insatiable-bloodlust/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/10/portal-turret-replica-has-real-laser-insatiable-bloodlust/#comments You might not remember Ryan Palser by name, but you'll surely recall the good gent's homemade Fallout 3 plasma rifle. He has since stepped his game up to bigger and badder video game weapon replicas, and has just completed the construction of the first of his forthcoming army of Portal laser turrets. Thankfully, Ryan has been sporting enough to build the older version of these human eviscerators (not the upgraded Portal 2 turrets, phew!), giving us at least a small chance of survival -- provided we have the right gear, of course. See the laser-equipped, GLaDOS-approved, 38-inch tall turret next to its maker after the break, or hit up the source link for some gorgeous photos of its construction.

Continue reading Portal turret replica has real laser, insatiable bloodlust

Portal turret replica has real laser, insatiable bloodlust originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 May 2011 03:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aperture scienceApertureSciencecannoncitizensnipsdiygamegunhomemadelaserlaser turretlasersLaserTurretportalrecreationreplicaryan palserRyanPalsertoyturretvalvevideo gameVideoGamewargadgetweaponweapon replicaWeaponReplicaTue, 10 May 2011 03:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Lasers prove you can't hold a camera still (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/03/lasers-prove-you-cant-hold-a-camera-still-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/03/lasers-prove-you-cant-hold-a-camera-still-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/03/lasers-prove-you-cant-hold-a-camera-still-video/#comments
If you think schlepping a tripod along with your DSLR isn't worth it because you're convinced you can get a clean shot if you just concentrate hard enough, we have to ask... how's that working out for ya? To demonstrate the destructive power of shaky hands, Camera Technica attached a laser to the hotshoe of a Canon 7D, with the light reflecting off a wall 20 feet away. The lesson: it's challenging enough to get a crisp shot with a tripod -- let alone without. In the video below, the laser point wobbles erratically when the photographer gingerly presses the shutter with his finger. In the second clip he uses a remote release, which visibly cuts, but doesn't eliminate, the shake. Only when he locks up the mirror and resorts to a remote release does the shaking drop to a minimum. Need some more vivid evidence? We highly suggest heading past the break for a demo that might just make you reconsider that decision not to pack a Gorillapod.

Continue reading Lasers prove you can't hold a camera still (video)

Lasers prove you can't hold a camera still (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 May 2011 15:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>camera shakeCamera TechnicaCameraShakeCameraTechnicaimage stabilizationImageStabilizationlaserlasersPreston Scottshakyshaky handsShakyHandssteadytripodtripodsvideoTue, 03 May 2011 15:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Laser steering system uses liquid crystal to destroy the enemy on the cheap (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/03/laser-steering-system-uses-liquid-crystal-to-destroy-the-enemy-o/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/03/laser-steering-system-uses-liquid-crystal-to-destroy-the-enemy-o/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/03/laser-steering-system-uses-liquid-crystal-to-destroy-the-enemy-o/#commentsIt might look like a poor man's game of Pong now, but a new laser steering system coming out of North Carolina State University could make blowing things up Star Wars-style cheaper and more efficient. The setup enlists a series of "polarization gratings" through which a laser beam passes. Each of these gratings, made of liquid crystal applied to a plate of glass, are configured to redirect the light in a particular direction, thus simply steering the laser beam without significantly decreasing its power -- with each grating comes a new "steerable" angle. The system's creators point out its not only hyper accurate, but also less expensive than existing arrangements due to the use of liquid crystal. Apparently the US Air Force is already using the stuff, but don't expect them to go all Death Star anytime soon.

Continue reading Laser steering system uses liquid crystal to destroy the enemy on the cheap (video)

Laser steering system uses liquid crystal to destroy the enemy on the cheap (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 May 2011 06:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>defenseinfraredIRIR laserIrLaserlaserlaser beam steeringlaser beamslaser steeringlaser steering systemLaserBeamsLaserBeamSteeringlasersLaserSteeringLaserSteeringSystemmilitaryMilitaryTechNorth Carolina State UniversityNorthCarolinaStateUniversityus air forceUsAirForcevideowarwar gadgetWarGadgetTue, 03 May 2011 06:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Laser tripwire does Hollywood-style security on the cheap, precious jewels not included]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/20/laser-tripwire-does-hollywood-style-security-on-the-cheap-prec/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/20/laser-tripwire-does-hollywood-style-security-on-the-cheap-prec/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/20/laser-tripwire-does-hollywood-style-security-on-the-cheap-prec/#comments Sure, you could opt for a laser tripwire that puts intruders on blast via Twitter, but there's something to be said for the simplicity of the latest security system to come from Instructables user EngineeringShock. You've seen this setup before: a group of mirrors are strategically positioned to bounce a laser beam across an open space, ensuring that even the most nimble of invaders -- excepting MacGyver, perhaps -- will set sirens blaring. Consisting of a programmable keypad, a laser and detector, a series of six carefully aligned mirrors, and an LED-equipped siren, the system does Hollywood-style security on a budget -- the siren being the most expensive element at $20. If you're looking to lock your stuff down like they do in the movies, follow the source link for full instructions, or check out the video demo after the break.

Continue reading Laser tripwire does Hollywood-style security on the cheap, precious jewels not included

Laser tripwire does Hollywood-style security on the cheap, precious jewels not included originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 11:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DIYEngineeringShockhackhow toHowToinstructableslaserlaser trip wirelasersLaserTripWiresecuritysecurity systremSecuritySystremtrip wiretrip-wireTripWirevideoWed, 20 Apr 2011 11:27:00 EST<![CDATA[US Navy's solid-state laser sets boat ablaze (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/10/us-navys-solid-state-laser-sets-boat-ablaze-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/10/us-navys-solid-state-laser-sets-boat-ablaze-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/10/us-navys-solid-state-laser-sets-boat-ablaze-video/#comments See that flaming wreckage in the picture above? A laser did that, mounted on board a second vessel similarly bobbing on top of the ocean last week. Yes, even though the United States Navy told us that legitimate seafaring death rays might take another decade to materialize, basic weaponized lasers are ready today, as the 15-kilowatt gun attached to the USS Paul Foster happily demonstrates. Of course, as you'll see in the video after the break, a beam of such minimal power takes a moment to burn through even an unshielded engine and ignite the fuel therein -- once we get some 100+ kilowatt lasers up in there, we shouldn't have such problems.

Continue reading US Navy's solid-state laser sets boat ablaze (video)

US Navy's solid-state laser sets boat ablaze (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 10 Apr 2011 21:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>burnfirelaserlasersmilitarynavyoffice of naval researchOfficeOfNavalResearchONRsolid statesolid state laserSolidStateSolidStateLaserUS navyUsNavyvideowargadgetweaponweaponsSun, 10 Apr 2011 21:02:00 EST<![CDATA[In lasers we trust: NASA researches 5kW galactic trash disposal system]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/15/in-lasers-we-trust-nasa-researches-5kw-galactic-trash-disposal/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/15/in-lasers-we-trust-nasa-researches-5kw-galactic-trash-disposal/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/15/in-lasers-we-trust-nasa-researches-5kw-galactic-trash-disposal/#comments Space junk is a growing problem -- 200,000 pieces and counting -- and as the amount of earth's orbital debris increases, so does the chance some satellite will be involved in a cosmic collision. As this would cause much gnashing of teeth and woe for the affected terrestrial parties, some researchers from NASA's Ames Research Center have pitched the idea of moving said junk with a laser -- once again proving that everything's better with lasers. The idea is to use a 5kW ray, likely similar to the one we've got at the Starfire Optical Range, to slow our galactic garbage -- perhaps slowing it down enough to burn it up in earth's atmosphere. Current estimates say such a laser could migrate ten pieces of junk a day, which gives us the promise of a future with neat and tidy skies.

In lasers we trust: NASA researches 5kW galactic trash disposal system originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 01:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>laserlasersnasanasa ames research centerNasaAmesResearchCentersatellitesatellitesspacespace debrisspace junkSpaceDebrisSpaceJunkstarfireTue, 15 Mar 2011 01:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Purdue researchers make solar cell manufacturing cheaper, more efficient with lasers]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/11/purdue-researchers-make-solar-cell-manufacturing-cheaper-more-e/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/11/purdue-researchers-make-solar-cell-manufacturing-cheaper-more-e/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/11/purdue-researchers-make-solar-cell-manufacturing-cheaper-more-e/#comments Is there anything lasers can't do? We only ask because they seem to be improving everything from microphones to railroads, and now researchers from Purdue University have leveraged the power of light to better manufacture solar cells. Using an ultrashort (as in quadrillionths of a second) pulse laser to more precisely scribe the microchannels connecting thin-film solar cells -- as compared to current mechanical stylus methods -- the Boilermakers were able to improve energy transfer efficiency between cells and significantly reduce manufacturing time. Having demonstrated the process works, research continues to better understand and prepare it for use by manufacturers -- sooner rather than later, we hope.

Purdue researchers make solar cell manufacturing cheaper, more efficient with lasers originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 07:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ecoeco friendlyEcoFriendlyefficiencyenergygreenlaserlasersprintable solar cellsPrintableSolarCellspurduepurdue universityPurdueUniversitysolarsolar cellssolar powerSolarCellsSolarPowerthin film solarThinFilmSolarFri, 11 Mar 2011 07:17:00 EST<![CDATA[US Navy's free-electron laser breaks another record, takes aim at missiles next]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/21/us-navys-free-electron-laser-breaks-another-record-takes-aim-a/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/21/us-navys-free-electron-laser-breaks-another-record-takes-aim-a/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/21/us-navys-free-electron-laser-breaks-another-record-takes-aim-a/#comments The US Navy's free-electron laser has broken a few records already, but it's just plowed through another fairly big one -- one that its creators say could put it on the fast track to actually being used to shoot down missiles. That particular record involved running the system for eight hours at 500 kilovolts, which is a level they've been trying to achieve for the past six years and, according to the researchers, "definitely shortens" the time frame for getting to their ultimate goal of 100 kilowatts. What's more, while this particular test didn't actually involve blowing anything up, the Navy seems confident that the laser will eventually be able to do just that, as it's just recently awarded Boeing a $163 million contract to package the laser in a weapons system that would be deployed on ships and be able to detect, track, and destroy missiles (or presumably anything else ). According the Office of Naval Research, the Navy hopes to meet that goal by 2015.

[Image: Wired / Danger Room]

US Navy's free-electron laser breaks another record, takes aim at missiles next originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 13:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boeingdeath rayDeathRayfree electron laserfree-electron laserFree-electronLaserFreeElectronLaserjefferson labsJeffersonLabslaserlaser weaponlasersLaserWeaponnavyus navyUsNavywargadgetweaponMon, 21 Feb 2011 13:18:00 EST<![CDATA[AT&T opens up video archives, shares the history inside]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/19/atandt-opens-up-video-archives-shares-the-history-inside/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/19/atandt-opens-up-video-archives-shares-the-history-inside/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/19/atandt-opens-up-video-archives-shares-the-history-inside/#comments Where can you find Orson Welles, Marconi's daughter, Alexander Graham Bell's grandaughter, and inventors of the transistor and television? You might try To Communicate is the Beginning, a 1976 educational publication tracing the history of electronic communication, which AT&T recently decided to exhume from its archives of Bell Labs material. The 30-minute video's just the first in a series, too, as AT&T's website is already playing host to films about the origins of the laser and integrated circuit too, with more on the way. Find them all at our source link -- you do want to know how your favorite technologies evolved, right?

AT&T opens up video archives, shares the history inside originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 Feb 2011 20:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archivearchivesATTBellBell LabsBellLabscommunicationhistoricalhistoryicintegrated circuitIntegratedCircuitlaserlasersradiotelegraphtelephonetelevisionSat, 19 Feb 2011 20:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Scientists stumble upon bomb-sniffing laser with a boomerang effect]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/31/scientists-stumble-upon-bomb-sniffing-laser-with-a-boomerang-eff/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/31/scientists-stumble-upon-bomb-sniffing-laser-with-a-boomerang-eff/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/31/scientists-stumble-upon-bomb-sniffing-laser-with-a-boomerang-eff/#comments You might think of a laser as light forced into a single, directed beam, but scientists have recently discovered that if you fire a laser in one direction, the air itself can fire another right back. Using a 226nm UV laser, researchers at Princeton University managed to excite oxygen atoms to the point that they emit infrared light along the same channel as the original beam, except this time pointed back where it came from. Since the return beam's chemistry depends on the particles in the air to generate the return beam, the "backward laser" could potentially carry the signature of those particles back to the source and help identify them there. That seems to be the entire goal, in fact -- the project, funded by an Office of Naval Research program on "Sciences Addressing Asymmetric Explosive Threats," hopes that such a laser can ID bombs from a distance by hunting for trace chemicals in the air. Sounds like the perfect addition to our terahertz specs, and one step closer to the tricorder of our dreams.

Scientists stumble upon bomb-sniffing laser with a boomerang effect originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 07:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>air laserAirLaserArthur DogariuArthurDogariubackward laserBackwardLaserbackwards laserBackwardsLaserbomb detectingbomb detectorBombDetectingBombDetectorchemicalchemical analysisChemicalAnalysisdetectionlaserlasersprincetonprinceton universityPrincetonUniversityresearchRichard MilesRichardMilessensingMon, 31 Jan 2011 07:08:00 EST<![CDATA[World's first room-temperature semiconductor plasmon nanolaser created by Berkeley scientists]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/14/worlds-first-room-temperature-semiconductor-plasmon-nanolaser-c/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/14/worlds-first-room-temperature-semiconductor-plasmon-nanolaser-c/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/14/worlds-first-room-temperature-semiconductor-plasmon-nanolaser-c/#commentsWe're big proponents of the idea that everything is better with lasers, and a team of researchers at UC Berkeley has created a new type of semiconductor plasmon nanolaser, or spaser, that could eventually find a home in many of your favorite devices. The big breakthrough is that Berkeley's spaser operates at room temperature -- previous spasers could only sustain lasing at temperatures below -250° C -- enabling its use in commercial products. Plasmon lasers work by amplifying surface plasmons, which can be confined to a much smaller area than the light particles amplified by conventional lasers. This allows for extreme miniaturization of optical devices for ultra-high-resolution imaging, high sensitivity biological sensors, and optical circuits 100 times faster than the electronic variety. There's no word on how soon the technology will be commercially available, so you'll have to wait a bit longer for your first laser computer.

World's first room-temperature semiconductor plasmon nanolaser created by Berkeley scientists originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 01:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>berkeleylaserlasersnanonano lasernanolasernanotechnanotechnologyplasmonplasmon nanolaserPlasmonNanolaserspaserUC berkeleyUcBerkeleyFri, 14 Jan 2011 01:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Beamz laser instrument gets upgraded to please hardcore laser rockers and gamers alike]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/06/beamz-laser-instrument-gets-upgraded-to-please-hardcore-laser-ro/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/06/beamz-laser-instrument-gets-upgraded-to-please-hardcore-laser-ro/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/06/beamz-laser-instrument-gets-upgraded-to-please-hardcore-laser-ro/#comments
The demonstration of four-player Rock Band Mobile at Samsung's CES 2011 press conference was pretty slick, but to the folks at Beamz, that kind of music gaming is still so amateur compared to its laser switch-activated jam sessions. That's because they've redesigned their original product to be more living room-friendly thanks to a black paint job and a slimmer profile. They've also tried to appeal more to the gaming set by expanding the Beamz song library beyond the original 80 developed by independent artists to include "top hit jams" - aka cover versions of top 40 tracks -- and 35 licensed "video songs" from Disney and EMI. So if you'd like to laser thump the bass to Blondie's Heart of Glass music video, you can. Additionally, the Beamz software has been upgraded to support up to three laser instruments on the same track and recording for a real band experience -- though it still only runs on PCs. For $200, we don't expect these to fly off shelves, but for those who've mastered the whammy bar, it's at least another way to get your faux music-making fix.

Gallery: Beamz music player

Beamz laser instrument gets upgraded to please hardcore laser rockers and gamers alike originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 23:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audioBeamzBeamz Interactive Music SystemBeamz Music SystemBeamzInteractiveMusicSystemBeamzMusicSystemcesces 2011ces2011DisneyEMIhands-oninstrumentlaserlaser music systemLaserMusicSystemlasersmusicmusic gamemusic gamesmusic gamingmusicalmusical instrumentmusical instrumentsMusicalInstrumentMusicalInstrumentsMusicGameMusicGamesMusicGamingsoundThu, 06 Jan 2011 23:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Dutch scientists develop half million euro, 'affordable' super laser]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/24/dutch-scientists-develop-half-million-euro-affordable-super-l/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/24/dutch-scientists-develop-half-million-euro-affordable-super-l/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/24/dutch-scientists-develop-half-million-euro-affordable-super-l/#comments The folks at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) have lovingly referred to their latest contribution to the world of science as the "poor man's X-FEL." An X-FEL, or X-ray Free-electron Laser, is like a super strong video microscope that converts electrons to X-rays to observe high-speed molecular movement. TU/e's super laser alternative depends solely on a very specific bunching of electrons to do the same thing, allowing for a much smaller (it fits on a tabletop), much cheaper setup. With an estimated cost of half a million euro, the laser is hardly cheap, but it's far more affordable than the competition: Stanford's X-FEL runs hundreds of millions of dollars, and measures a whole kilometer. TU/e researchers admit that their laser can't do everything that an X-FEL can, but, hey, you get what you pay for. Up next for TU/e? In vitro pork products. Yummy.

Dutch scientists develop half million euro, 'affordable' super laser originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Dec 2010 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eindhoveneindhoven university of technologyEindhovenUniversityOfTechnologyElectron LaserElectronLaserLaserlasersmolecularmoleculemoleculesstanfordStanford UniversityStanfordUniversityTUeX-FELX-Ray Free Electron LaserX-Ray Free LaserX-rayFreeElectronLaserX-rayFreeLaserFri, 24 Dec 2010 13:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Northrop Grumman's 100 kilowatt laser fired for six hours (update: ten minutes straight)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/12/northrop-grummans-100-kilowatt-laser-fired-for-six-hours-straig/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/12/northrop-grummans-100-kilowatt-laser-fired-for-six-hours-straig/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/12/northrop-grummans-100-kilowatt-laser-fired-for-six-hours-straig/#comments 100 kilowatts of piercing light isn't something to sneeze at, even fired for just a few seconds, but Northrup Grumman's long-awaited weapons-grade laser recently ran for a full six hours. That milestone is the feather in the company's cap as it prepares to ship the hulking machine to the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, where it will presumably begin doing what it does best -- turning things into crispier, more exploded versions of themselves in no time flat. PR after the break.

Update: Though we originally read this to mean that the potent ray fired for six hours straight, Northrup Grumman has since informed us that's not quite the case. "The correct info is that the 100kw solid-state laser has operated for a total of 60 minutes over a period of months as we continued refining it and preparing it for relocation to White Sands Missile Range," said a company rep, who promised to explain the nuances of military-grade lasing on Monday. We'll let you know what we hear.

Update 2: Okay, we recently finished speaking to Northrup Grumman, and here's the final word: the longest period the laser ever ran without stopping was ten minutes straight. Six hours is the total amount of time the laser has operated at 100 kilowatts, period, since the first time the firm turned it on in March of last year, and "60 minutes" is the made-up amount of time that inadvertently skipped into Northrup Grumman's email to us when it was originally trying to correct our mistake.

Continue reading Northrop Grumman's 100 kilowatt laser fired for six hours (update: ten minutes straight)

Northrop Grumman's 100 kilowatt laser fired for six hours (update: ten minutes straight) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Dec 2010 03:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>100 kilowatt100Kilowatt100kwlaserlasersNorthrop GrummanNorthropGrummanwargadgetweaponweaponryweaponsSun, 12 Dec 2010 03:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Pioneer teams with Microvision on laser heads-up display, next-gen pico projector tech]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/10/pioneer-teams-with-microvision-on-laser-heads-up-display-next-g/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/10/pioneer-teams-with-microvision-on-laser-heads-up-display-next-g/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/10/pioneer-teams-with-microvision-on-laser-heads-up-display-next-g/#comments Remember when Pioneer's Android minions shot laser beams from their eyes and created an awesome prototype heads-up display? It turns out those lasers came from a Microbision PicoP projector, and that prototype is inching towards reality. You see, Pioneer's partnered with Microvision to build a brand-new laser module for the commercial version -- which is set to debut in 2012 -- using a brand-new display engine and the actual green laser that's been missing from the formula up until now. We can't wait to burn driving directions into our collective retina, so we'll be watching this one closely from now on. PR and video after the break.

Continue reading Pioneer teams with Microvision on laser heads-up display, next-gen pico projector tech

Pioneer teams with Microvision on laser heads-up display, next-gen pico projector tech originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 09:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>automotiveheads up displayheads-up displayHeads-upDisplayHeadsUpDisplayHudsoninfotainmentlaserlasersMicroVisionmicrovision picopMicrovisionPicopnetwork vision hudNetworkVisionHudpicopico projectorpicopPicoProjectorpioneervideoFri, 10 Dec 2010 09:22:00 EST